Gardening Journey Unveils Paul Schrader's Resilience

The Big Picture

In Master Gardener, Schrader maintains the thematic continuity found in his previous works as he delves into the challenges faced by isolated, unprincipled individuals confronting issues of manhood and ethical principles within a fractured society.

The film bravely explores darker themes, diving into the protagonist's troubled past and encouraging viewers to follow his story until the very end.

In contrast to his previous movies, Master Gardener provides a promising resolution, giving Schrader the opportunity to explore new narratives while also addressing the recurring themes of shattered masculinity present in his previous works.

Paul Schrader's screenplay for Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver in 1976 launched his career and introduced a recurring theme in his films. This theme revolves around a specific character archetype, often referred to as "God's lonely man," portrayed as isolated men grappling with both masculinity and morality in a society they perceive as rebellious. Schrader continued to explore this theme in his critically acclaimed 2017 film, First Reformed, featuring Ethan Hawke as Reverend Toller, who struggles to reconcile his faith with humanity's role in the climate crisis. Unbeknownst to Schrader, this marked the beginning of an informal trilogy referred to as the "Man in a Room" trilogy. The second film, The Card Counter, was released in 2021, following Oscar Isaac's character, William Tell, a veteran who served time in prison for his involvement in the detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib. In 2023, Magnolia Pictures quietly premiered the third film in this trilogy, Master Gardener, portraying Joel Edgerton as Narvil Roth, a man seeking redemption in a seemingly hopeless world, plagued by his troubled past. Roth, working as a quiet gardener at an estate owned by Sigourney Weaver's character, Norma Haverhill, forms a complicated bond with Quintessa Swindell's character, Maya, a young apprentice struggling with drug use. The conflict between their relationship and Roth's dark history brings Schrader's recurring motif of lonely, immoral men full circle.

'Master Gardener' Builds on the Themes of Schrader's Past Work

Image via Magnolia Pictures

In Master Gardener, Roth and Maya form a strong bond before the audience discovers that Roth is a former Neo-Nazi who found solace in gardening through the witness protection program. This revelation deeply affects their relationship and challenges viewers to follow Roth's story until the end. It is a bold move to explore such dark territory with the film's main character, but Schrader's unique perspective on redemption and personal growth makes it a worthwhile endeavor for those interested in his work.

Schrader's Taxi Driver screenplay introduced an archetype that would become a central figure in many of his notable works. Travis Bickle, played by Robert De Niro, is driven to make a positive impact on a society he views as severely flawed and corrupt. However, Bickle's overwhelming despair, distorted thinking, and misguided anger lead him down a path of self-destruction. His profound loneliness, coupled with a belief in his own greatness, serves as a chilling and captivating model for Schrader's protagonists.

Despite the similarities seen in films like Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, directed by Schrader, or Raging Bull, another collaboration by Scorsese, none of these protagonists are exact replicas of one another. The fundamental similarity lies in the struggle they face with their internal issues, often stemming from an unhealthy perspective on masculinity, and the belief that the society they live in no longer requires their contribution. Schrader's modern approach is evident in the portrayal of Hawke, Isaac, and Edgerton, who all depict men who are familiarly angry and desperate but, rather than directing their anger towards the world, they feel unworthy of being a part of it due to their troubled pasts.

With 'Master Gardener,' Paul Schrader Finds Fertile Soil for a New Stage of His Career

Image via Magnolia Pictures

First Reformed establishes similar conflicts found in Master Gardener. A solitary man reflects on his past, leading him to lose sight of how to progress forward. Reverend Toller carries the burden of not just his personal failings, but also the collective wrongdoing of humanity against our own planet. Toller struggles to find a healthy resolution for these emotions, and the film concludes with an ending open to interpretation. Influenced by his strong perspective on the climate crisis and haunted by his own powerlessness to rectify these issues, Toller plans a violent manifestation of his sentiments, which is ultimately foiled.

The conclusion of the content fragment is bleak on the surface. Toller's initial plan to explode his church gets disrupted when the woman he has grown close to, played by Amanda Seyfried, appears. Instead, he inflicts harm on himself using barbed wire and prepares to consume drain cleaner to end his life. It remains uncertain whether the woman saves Toller or if he follows through with his plan. Nevertheless, the sudden and unsettling ending of the film leaves a lasting impact, even if his fate remains undecided.

In "The Card Counter," Tell is a former incarcerated gambler burdened by a dark history of mistreating prisoners of war during the Iraq War. He finds contentment in a strict routine and despises any superficiality or peculiarities in life. Despite developing a relationship with a gambling associate, portrayed by Tiffany Haddish, Tell realizes that he cannot find solace in the outside world. Ultimately, he seeks vengeance against a private defense contractor, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, who manipulated Tell and others to avoid punishment for their actions. Tell surrenders himself to the authorities and resumes a somber existence in prison, where he is visited by his newfound love.

Image via Magnolia Pictures

In Master Gardener, Roth confronts his past with a violent intensity. However, the resolution takes a different path than the self-destructive ones often depicted in Schrader's films. Instead of succumbing to inner turmoil, Roth manages to overcome it, resulting in a positive place in his relationship with Maya. The film culminates with a heartwarming scene of the two dancing on his porch, signifying the disappearance of anger and pain that have dominated these narratives.

Schrader's latest film, Master Gardener, fearlessly tackles provocative and dark subject matter, distinguishing itself from other films in its resolution. It serves as a postscript to the themes explored in his previous notable works, offering a glimpse into the potential for Schrader to embark on a fresh storytelling journey while bidding farewell to his latest embodiment of a lonely protagonist. This unexpected and sentimental ending allows for a hopeful outlook and marks a departure from Schrader's previous explorations of broken masculinity in Taxi Driver. It signifies a shift in creative direction where love takes the place of hate as the seeds for new growth.

Master Gardener

Release Date May 19, 2023Director Paul SchraderCast Joel Edgerton, Sigourney Weaver, Quintessa Swindell, Esai Morales